Weekly Post - 11/28/2011

Well. As everyone knows this last week was Thanksgiving. I think. Time goes by so fast, you wonder if most days really went by. It's a weird thing really. It really is! I've been on my mission for 14 months! I'm gettin old. :P

 

So this last week has been alot of working. As usual. I don't remember much, other than Elder Tripp and I both aren't feeling very well. He has a cold, and I have some kind of stomach bug. But I'm doing alot better.

 

Wednesday we went on exchanges in Washington, with Elder Taylor and Elder Moser. That was way cool. I went with Elder Taylor since he's the other Senior companion and Elder Tripp went with Elder Moser. I love Elder Taylor, he's such a good missionary. It was a very good exchange. I learned alot, and we created an inside joke. It's funny.

 

Thursday we ate Thanksgiving Dinner with the Shaner family. They're awesome. Their son was playing Elder Scrolls V when we got there, and we watched him play it for a good half hour. It was pretty awesome. He killed a dragon for me.

Then we talked to Bro. Shaner about life, and the branch and what is going on with him. He's awesome. Brother Shaner is legit- he knows so much about the church and doctrine and all that. He is way sweet. He's way fun too. One of my favorite families there.

We were told to do something productive with members on Thanksgiving, instead of doing the regular 1 hour dinner appointments we were instructed to spend more time with the members we eat with. So we decided to ask Abby one of the daughters in the family when her friend, Brittany, who has been going to seminary and church pretty regularly was going to let us teach her. She said she'd ask and texted Brittany and Brittany came over and we taught her the first lesson. It went well. So that was productive! We also visited the McConeghey's and other families. It was nice. I enjoyed my Thanksgiving. It was nice that I didn't really think about home too. I've been trying to keep it out of mind lately. These last few weeks have been really hard, because I haven't had very many of my friends writing me lately. I've been getting lots of mail from my family! It's so awesome, because I get mail! But it's been hard on my mission because I'm not getting any from any friends really. So I've been trying to do what I can to stay positive, and not be whiny or anything, because new missionaries are big time followers and they'll do what ever their trainer does, so I don't want Elder Tripp to be a downer over not getting mail. I've seen things he does because I do it, and things he doesn't do because I don't do it. So I'm trying to be the BEST example I can be. Besides, I'm just grateful for a family who IS writing me and sending their love! Some missionaries don't even have that! I remember Elder Shelman never got mail when I was serving with him, and neither did Elder Medina. So the fact that I get mail from anyone is huge! I'm super fortunate.

 

Alma 37 is a really good chapter in the Book of Mormon I've decided. I just like the Book of Alma. For some reason lots of my companions that I've had on my mission really don't like the Book of Alma, but I love it! It's so bold, and straight forward on what we need to do. I love it. I've been getting some pretty awesome insights from Alma 37 lately. check it out and see what you get. You might just get something you really need. That's what the scriptures are for anyways, particularly the Book of Mormon. It answers Questions of the Soul.

Preach My Gospel is awesome too!

 

Anyways, I'm tired and I don't really feel like writing anymore.

 

Elder Prows

Weekly Post - 11/21/2011

Well this week was sweet. Just sweet. Very spiritually fulfilling.

Monday was a typical P-day. We were invited to watch with some members a movie called 17 Miracles. It was alright. Not the best movie. I've heard it was way good. I liked it, but it wasn't amazing.

Tuesday- we had the awesome experience of going to the temple! That was so sweet! You always got to love the temple! I love the temple. Nauvoo is just so awesome. Elder Tripp was like a little kid in a candy store haha. It was awesome.

Wednesday- We just had an average day as usual. It was good. We had a WAY SWEET lesson with Kim K. She is doing super well. Over half way done with the Book of Mormon already. She just eats that stuff up. She's wanting to be baptized ASAP. We also saw a building on fire.

Thursday- We had a special Zone Conference. It was sweet. Elder Shayne M. Bowen of the First Quorum of the Seventy came and visited our mission. It was pretty insane! The meeting went from 11:30-4:30. sister Jergensen, President Jergensen and Sister bowen gave really short talks and trainings. Each about 10 minutes. Then Elder Bowen spoke from 12 to 4:30. That was a spiritual feast! Like HOLY COW! I was so grateful for that. Nothing like a mission rebuking. He told us we were doing good, but he needed us to repent of whatever we needed to repent of and wake up different people the next day. That was so sweet. Then he talked to us about the importance of the Atonement, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this Gospel. It was AMAZING. But what was super sweet, was when he addressed the importance of covenants. It was awesooome! Just... it was really great. That's all I can say. I really needed that. It was such a privilege when after I got to talk to him in person just having a conversation about the Gospel, and shook his hand. He's an amazing man, and I definately cannot deny that he is a man of God. President Jergensen also asked us to stay in Iowa City until 7 PM when Elder Bowen was going to give another training to the Iowa City Stake Leadership. That was sweet. He basically told members that we no longer refer to Full-Time Missionaries as Full-Time Missionaries because members are the Full-Time Missionaries. We're only here Part-Time. We leave and get transferred and go home! The members are always there.

Super cool.

Friday-we weekly planned.

Saturday- Kim C. was baptized! That was so awesome. Definately the most powerful baptism I've had thus far. It was so powerful when she was in the water with her fiancee and they were both crying and he struggled to get the words out. Powerful! The spirit was so strong. :) We went with them after to Pizza Ranch and that was yummy. Then we went to a Less-Actives home and they were watching Boondock Saints 2. The son was mad we interrupted, but his mom made him wait. We were only there for a short time though. It went well. Almost that whole family was at church the next day too!

Sunday- I had the privilege to Confirm Kim C. a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was so sweet. I had to fight back tears, the spirit was so strong. She's definately been a super special one for us to teach and now baptize. Too bad she's moving to Las Vegas in December. But we're going to keep in touch for sure, and I talked to them, and in 1 year I will be home, so we plan on me attending their sealing for sure. :) I'm stoked. I love those two, they're powerful.

That was my week. As you can see I'm on a spiritual high!

So you should all read Preach My Gospel because Elder Bowen of the Seventy says so, and it's legit. Elder Bowen said that no person can prepare themselves better for a mission than by reading Preach My Gospel. A missionary should not show up to the MTC with a new Preach My Gospel, or getting a new one. They should have a copy that is used and seasoned, so that they have to get a new one in starting their mission. How profound is that?! You have to love your GA's!

Love you all!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! I will!

Elder Prows

Weekly Post - 11/14/2011

BOO! Did I scare you? Probably, because you walked right into that. My sister did that all the time, yup. That happens all the time, she just gets scared. Even if you just go WAH! See that scared you again.

So this last week was pretty good!

Monday- Elder Tripp had his first P-day in the field, and we had alot of fun. P-Days work out alot better when you plan very thoroughly. We already planned pretty thoroughly, but now we plan very thoroughly.

Tuesday- Elder Tripp had his first day doing service. He liked the Library, but he really got a kick out of calling BINGO at the old people place. I can't ever remember what they are called- nursing home! That's what it's called. He liked it though, he thought it was way funny that the old people got so into bingo. We scored a free dinner too, so that was cool.

Wednesday- On Wednesday we had to drive with the Sisters to Davenport, IA for a special 'New Trainers' meeting with President Jergensen. Sister Draney and I were required to attend since we are both trainers. So it was a good 2 1/2ish hour drive to Davenport, and then after the 1 1/2 hour long meeting we drove another 2 1/2 hours back to Fairfield. Long drives SUCK. Especially when you are the only person who is allowed to drive the car, I'd be pleased to drive that long if I was driving a 2011 Chevy Camaro, but unfortunately we're stuck with a 2010 Pontiac Vibe. That car sucks. It's a chick car. How did Elders end up with a Pontiac Vibe and the Sisters end up with a Chevy Colorado? It doesn't make sense! Anyways, enough about car complaints.

Thursday- This day was cool. We had district meeting, and tracted alot. It was fun. Elder Tripp gets a kick out of people slamming doors in his face. Especially when they blow up on us just for introducing ourselves. He liked to laugh. We also visited with Brother Fitzgerald and talked the gospel. It was a good lesson. Then we met with Sister Arkon at the Library for a lesson. She's doing way good. I'm glad too because I baptized her, and I'd feel distraught if she fell away. She's awesome and solid though. Good for her for sticking to it! She's been going to church up in muscatine with her husband who is also a member, and lives up there. So that's what's been up with her.

Friday- We were weekly planning. We felt inspired to call this one potential that Elder Wilson and I bumped into at a laundromat. Her name is Kim. I'll call her Kim K. Because are teaching another Kim, who I will call Kim C. She's awesome. She said we should go over there "now". We taught her the restoration and set a baptismal date for her. It was way sweet, because Elder Tripp got to extend all the commitments. I like to make sure he gets to have good experiences. Good for him. He's growing alot. That's what the Gospel does, it grows people. :)

Saturday- we had almost all our lessons fall through, except for the one with Kim C. Kim C. is getting baptized next week so we went over the baptismal interview questions and set up an interview for her. She had the interview on Sunday morning and she passed! It's so exciting! Now we are going to wait and see how everything else goes, cause she just needs to be baptized!

Sunday- typical Sundays. Church, studies, and work. We had a good dinner with the Titze's, and they fed us good pie. It reminded me of Pie Night. Kim K came to church. She asked us after church "What do I need to do to be baptized and how fast can it happen?"

Golden words there, golden words! Elder Tripp I think just about fainted. Elder Tripp was tripping over what he heard! I'm sure he's never heard that one before. No seriously, I don't think he's heard it. Hang on I'll ask him. Yeah, he has. DARN IT!

Anyways this email is now boring me. And we have a haircut appointment in 5 minutes so we gotta bounce!

Everyone make themselves a mormon.org account!

Read the Book of Mormon!

BOOM!

Elder Prows

P.S.

one of my friends sent me a postcard. He asked if I thought it was cool. Yes. Yes I did think it was cool. Good ole Elder Wood, of the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission.

Weekly Post - 11/7/2011

Well everyone. This week has been a very good and interesting week. It's been full of lots of cleaning the apartment, saying goodbye to members and helping Elder Wilson return to normal life.

Elder Wilson is now home. He is now just Chris. That is a very interesting thought to think about. But life moves on. Someday I will return home, and much as I hate to think that. Maybe I'll blink and just be starting off with Elder Sonderegger again? Who knows. Either way it's going to end, and I'll go back to being Topher Prows. Ugh. That names too normal. I love my name, but I like going by Elder right now.

Anyways we did all that stuff in preparation for me to drop Elder Wilson off in Iowa City to be taken back to Des Moines and do all his departing junk. I took the time to pick up Elder Riley Tripp from Ephraim, Utah. Elder Tripp is awesome and I love this kid. He's 19 years old and has been on his mission for just under a month. For some of you that helps you realize what is going on. Elder Tripp is my boy! I am training a brand new missionary. That is super weird to be saying and I still feel weird typing that out, or saying it. I'm a daddy! And Elder Sonderegger is a grandaddy!

For any of you who don't this part of mission lingo:

-Life before a mission is concidered "Pre-Mortal Life".

-When a missionary finds out he/she is training he/she finds out he/she is "pregnant".

-The day he/she picks up his/her new missionary (we do not use the term "greenie" anymore) is concidered birth into the Mission Field.

-Life in the Field is concidered "Mortality".

-The trainer is the Father/Mother.

-The New Missionary is the Son/Daughter.

-This starts a lineage.

-Your mission is your life.

-When a missionary returns home it is death.

-Post-Mission life is Post-Mortality.

and so on.

So yes I am the father of Elder Tripp, Elder Sonderegger is his Grandaddy, and some day I will have a grand-baby.

Hopefully. I'm certain Elder Tripp will train on his mission though, because he's a stud, and a killer missionary. A way good example to me.

So this last week with Elder Tripp has been full of helping him to get to know people, and showing him the ropes. Training is so fun. I could do this for my whole mission. I remember when I was younger telling President Jergensen that I would love to train at some point on my mission. That was the only thing I really wanted to do other than be a normal missionary, was train. And now I am! I'm so happy! AH! It's so fun! Elder Tripp is FULLY AWESOME! (reference to Bolt, my favorite animated movie? Maybe- Toy Story and the Iron Giant are still way good.)

My favorite experience so far with Elder Tripp has been in sitting with him and teaching the Plan of Salvation to Kim. How humbling is it to see a new missionary follow the spirit, open up to people, and see the open up to him, as he gently and sincerely testifies of his knowledge of the Gospel. I'm very proud of my boy. I couldn't have gotten a better one.

At any rate I must bid you all farewell. That is all that I have to say this week, and I just want you all to know this:

ELDER TRIPP IS FULLY AWESOME!

Love you all bye

Papa Prows OUT!

Weekly Post - 11/2/2011

Well this week marks a milestone. I weighed myself yesterday. 165. I weigh 165! But then I found out the scale was off balance! SHOOT! So that means I may not weigh 165... but it felt good while it lasted. I reported to the MTC weighing about 185, and entered the field about 190. So dropping down to 165 is -25 pounds? Yesssss.

So this week... we had WAY low numbers. The Zone Leaders were way shocked when we gave them haha. But we have an excuse!

Monday- P-Day, and at night we traveled to Iowa City.

Tuesday- I spent all day in Iowa City with Elder England again, because Elder Wilson and Elder Rasmussen are both going home, so they had their going home temple trip. That was a way fun day. Elder England is a way fun guy. We played that night a fun board game called Killer Bunnies.

Wednesday- We spent the day in Washington on exchanges with Washington. That was a fun day, I got to know Elder Webb, and he's a way sweet guy. I loved talking to him.

Thursday- District meeting, and I can't remember what else.

Friday- Weekly Planning. We got through it really fast, because this next week was easy to go through.

Saturday- TRANSFER CALLS! We had a sweet lesson with Raleigh, one of our baptismal dates. It was the first lesson in a long time. It's been hard to get ahold of him lately because of his parents marriage situation, but it was all good. He is still progressing and that is what matters! We taught him the Word of Wisdom, and that went way well. Hopefully if he lives that and shows him mom he's serious about baptism, then she'll let him be baptized!

Sunday- Stake Conference in Iowa City. That was awesome. We also spent lots of time letting Elder Wilson say goodbye to members. We also had to be in by 6 PM so we'd be out of the way of all the little kids trick or treating on beggers night. So we were bored for a while.

that was my week in a run through. Short but sweet! I'll let you all know how this week was next week on Monday! :D

I still can't believe Elder Wilson is going home. Thats so weird! I don't like it. Cause now I have to get a new companion, and get to know him, and all that. But that's missionary life. We all come and go, and 3 transfers with a companion is unusual anyways.

love you all bye!

Write me by the way.

Happy Halloween!

Elder Prows